Valve-controlling apparatus



(No Model.)

C. KAMMERER.

VALVE GONTROLLING APPARATUS.

No. 451,937. Patented May A12, 1891.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER KAMMERER, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

VALVE-CONTROLLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,937, dated May 12,1891.

Application filed November 7, 1890. Serial No. 370,615. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER KAM- MERER, of Boston, county of Suffolk, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Valve- Controlling Apparatus, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of novel construction, as will be described, in which a flexible diaphragm is normally acted upon on one side by hydrostatic pressure, which hydrostatic pressure in the operation of the apparatus is neutralized by a counterbalancing pressure, as will be hereinafter set forth.

My invention, among other things, is especially adapt-ed for controlling the movement of a valve, which may be the outletvalve of a steam-trap.

The particular features of my invention will be pointed out in the claims at the end of this specication. Y

Figure l is a vertical section on line .fr as, Fig. 2, of a steam-strap embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a top or plan View of the steam-trap shown in Fig. l; Fig. 3, a modification in section to be referred to 5 and Fig. 4, a sectional detail on line .r x', Fig. 3.

The apparatus shown in Fig. l as embodying' my invention represents a steam-trap adapted to be used in connection with any form of steam-chamber, such, for instance, as a radiator coil or vessel. (Not herein shown.)

In accordance with my invention a flexible diaphragm A, preferably composed of a plurality of sheet-metal disks or plates, there being ve herein shown, (marked 2 3 4 5 6,) is secured within a shell or case A', so as to divide the same into two chambers clJ d. The

case or shell A', as herein represented,` ismade in two parts 0.2 a3, secured together by bolts a4. rlhe metallic disk or plate 2 of the flexible diaphragm is made of greater diameter than the remaining plates or disks to be clamped between the parts a2 @Sof the case or shell A', the said disk being fastened to the disk 3 by a coupling-sleeve d5, screwed into nipples a6 a7, fastened to the under side of the disk 2 and to the top of the disk 3, re-

. Spectively. The disk 3 is soldered or otherwise fastened at its circumference or edge to the disk 4, which is secured to the disk 5 by a coupling-sleeve d8, screwed into threaded nipples d d10, secured to the disks 4t 5, respectively, the disk 5 being soldered or otherwise fastened at its circumference or edge to the disk or plated, having soldered or otherwise fastened to it a weight, herein shown as a plate @12, preferably a metal plate. The plate a, as shown in Fig. 1, has fastened to it, it being herein shown as screwed intoit, a rod bx, extended through the sleeves of d8 beyond the disk 2 into the chamber ot', the said rod constituting a valve, as will be described.

The part a3 of the case or shell A' has secured to or forming part of it a pipe b, preferably of considerable diameter, and preferably enlarged at its upper end to form a chamber b'. The pipe b has secured to its upper end, as herein shown, acap b2, provided with a threaded nipple b3, by which the trap may be secured to the radiator-coil or other vessel in which the condensed steam is to be trapped. The pipe b contains Within it a duct (shown as a pipe b5) of substantially small diameter, provided at its upper end with a funnel-shaped mouth b, preferably of larger diameter than the nozzle b3, so that the water of condensation may be discharged into the funnel-shaped mouth bf. The pipe b5 at its lower end is connected, as herein shown, to a hollow arm b?, represented as an integral part of the upper part a3 of the case A', the said hollow arm forming a continuation of a passage bs in the part a3, which registers With a passage b9 in the parta of the case, the latter communicating with the chamber ce. The hollow arm 117 and passages 198 b form practically acontinuation of the pipe b1". The pipe b com-- municates with the chamber a.

The upper part a3 of the case or shell A', as shown in Fig. l, has secured to it a valve casing or fitting B, having an inlet-port c, communicating with an outlet port or opening c in the pipe b, to which the fitting B is also secured, as by bolts c2., indicated by dotted lines, Fig. l, the said valve casing or iitting having an outlet-port c3, which in practice may be connected to any suitable receptacle. (Not herein shown.)

The valve casing or fitting B is provided with a port or opening c4 between the inlet- IOO port c and the outlet-port c, and the port c4 is normally closed by a valve c, having its stem c7connected, as shown in Fig. 1, to a piston cs, movable in a cylindrical extension 10 of theitting B. The piston o8 is provided, as shown, with an opening or passage ci, extendedA through it longitudinally, as will be hereinafter described.

The cylinder 10 of the fittingB is extended through the part as of the case or shell A and the said cylinderis provided with a head cl2, having a port or opening c13 extended through the said head and, as herein shown, through a nozzle c14 on the under side of the head substantially in line With the rod bx, the latter constituting a valve by which the port C13 may be opened and closed, as will be described.

The valve cis normally closed, as shown, by a spiral spring c, surrounding the upper portion of the valve-stem c7, and having its upper end extended into a recess in a cap 13 closing the end of the upper cylindrical extension of the valve-fitting B.

The operation of my invention, as embodied in the steam-trap herein described is as follows: The Water of condensation from the radiator or other vessel passes through the nozzle b3 into the pipe b5 and descends through the said pipe, hollow arm 127, passages 58 b9, into the chamber d. The water iills the chamber ci and then gradually fills up the passages hs b9, arm t7, aud pipe b5. As the water rises in the pipe b5 the exible diaphragm A is acted upon on its under side by hydrostatic pressure, due to the column of water in the pipe b5, and the said diaphragm is lifted, thereby bringing the valve or rod bx up in Contact with the nozzle c14 and shutting off communication between the chamber a and the port cl3. The valve c6 is at such times closed by the spring 015. The water of condensation continues to flow or drop into the pipe b5 until it has filled the same, and thereafter the Water of condensation overflows the pipe h5 and descends through the pipe b into the chamber d. The water of condensation is thus trapped until the column of water in the pipe b has attained a height suiicient to neutralize or counterbalance the hydrostatic pressure upon the under side of the diaphragm. Y The pressure upon the opposite sides of the diaphragm now being equal, the weight @12 draws the diaphragm downward and removes the valve or rod bx, so as to uncover the port C13 and permit the water of condensation in the chamber a to pass through the port cl3 into the cylinder 10 of the iitting B and act on the pistons e8, moving the latter upward and opening the valve c6. As soon as the valve c6 is opened the Water in the pipe b above the outlet-port c for the said pipe will flow through the ports c c4 c3, and, it desired, intoa'waste or storagetank. (Notshown.) As soon as sufficient water in the pipe b has been discharged so that the pressure on the under side of the diaphragm predominates, the diaphragm is raised and the valve or rod 11X seated, thus cutting ott the pressure upon the under side of the piston o8 and permitting the spring 015 to seat the valve cG and close the port c, thereby stopping the discharge of water from the pipe Zi. The valve cG is gradually seated as the water in the cylinder 10 escapes through the passage o9 in a small quantity or stream, the water in the cylinder l0 acting as a cushion for the piston es and valve c6. The valve c(i remains closed until the pressure of the hydrostatic column on the under side of the diaphragm is again balanced by the pressure on the oppositeor upper side of the diaphragm. The piston cSi acts in the capacity of an auxiliary valve to operate the main valve, and, while I may prefer to employ the construction shown in Fig. l, I do not desire to limit my invention in this respect, as other forms of valve may be employcd-for instance, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

Referring to Fig. 3, the valve-iitting is shown as provided with an inlet-port f, through which is extended the stem f of a piston-valve provided with three pistons f2 f3 f4, adapted to register with ports connecting the inlet-port f with the outlet or discharge port f5. The valve-itting is secured to the part 01,3, and the valve-stemf is fastened to the diaphragm A and is moved thereby to open and close the ports in the valve case or fitting. The valve is normally seated by the spring C15, the pressure of which may be adjusted, as herein shown, by a screw-threaded rod f7. The piston-valves f2 f3 f4 are connected, as herein shown, by Webs f3, forming practically a continuation of the valve-stem f.

I claiml. The combination, with a shell or case made in two parts, of a diaphragm consisting of a plurality of disks or plates, one of the said disks being of larger diameter than the remaining disks of the diaphragm and secured between the parts of the case or shell to divide the said case or shell into chambers, a pipe communicating With one of said cham* bers and adapted to contain a hydrostatic column, and a second pipe communicating with the other chamber, substantially as described. Y

2. The combination, with a shell or case, of a diaphragm secured therein to form chama bers, a pipe communicating with one chamber and adapted to contain a hydrostatic column, a second pipe communicating with the other chamber, a valve case or fitting having an inlet-port c, communicating With one of the said pipes and with a port cl3, communieating With one of the said chambers, and provided With an outlet or discharge port, and a valve to control communication between the inleirport c and the outlet-port of the valve case or fitting, substantially as described.

3. The combination,with a shell or case, of a diaphragm secured therein to form chambers, a pipe communicating with one chamber and adapted to contain a hydrostatic coli IOO umn, a second pipe communicating with the other chamber, a valve case or iitting B, provided with cylindrical extensions l 12 and having an inlet-port c, communicating with one of the said pipes, and provided with an outlet-port, a port e4 between said inlet and outlet ports, a valve to control the port c4, a piston c8 connected to said valve, a port cl3, connecting the cylinder 10 with one of the said chambers, a valve bx, secured to the diaphragm and controlling the port cl3, and

means to seatthe valve controlling the port c4, substantially as described.

' 4. The combination, with a shell or case composed of two parts 0,2 a3, of a diaphragm composed of a plurality of disks or plates, one of which is secured between the said parts to form chambers a, a', a weight attached to said diaphragm, a pipe b5, communicating with the chamber a, a pipe b, inclosing the pipe b5 and communicating with the chamber a', a valve-tting B, secured to the part a3 and provided with a port-opening cl3, and having an inlet-pipe c, communicating with the pipe b, a valve oG in'said iitting to control a port leading from the inlet-port c to an outlet-port c3 for the said fitting, an auxiliary valve e8, connected to the valve c, a spring to seat the valve c6, and a valve bx, attached to and operated by the diaphragm to close the port-opening 013, substantially as described.

5. In a steam-trap, the herein described diaphragm, it consisting of a plurality of metallic disks or plates, independent threaded nipples secured to independent disks orplates, and a coupling-sleeve inserted into two of the said independent nipples to unite the saidthreaded nipples together, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHRISTOPHER KAMMERER.

Witnesses:

JAs. H. CHURCHILL, EMMA J. BENNETT. 

